It was difficult to envision a blockbuster signing like this happening in the Menomonee Valley this winter.
There have been rumblings since the start of the offseason about the “financial constraints” faced by the Milwaukee Brewers, including intimations from the front office that there just wasn’t much money to spend. With a payroll that was already approaching $100 mil, it didn’t seem like a significant upgrade was in the offing for the Brew Crew.
That is, until free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal fell into the club’s lap.
Grandal was predicted to find free agent riches at the outset of this winter, with MLB Trade Rumors ranking him as their sixth-best available player for hire and forecasting a four-year, $64 mil deal for the 30 year old backstop.